Toaster



1938.. A.-DE MATTEIS ET AL 2,

TOASTER Filed Nov. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Shed 1 INVENTOR.

ALF- 500 05% 7775/5. fl w/v C. GOOD/7RD.

ATTORNEYS 22,.1938. A. DE MATTEIS ET AL TOASTER Filed Nov. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ A 1. FREDO DEMTTE/S.

ALL/IN C GODDARD BY. ATTORNEYS A. DE MATTEIS ET AL 2,112,075

, March .22, 1938.

TOASTER Filed NOV. 14, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS J m a m r. .0 mmm a wm E AA "1 ch 22, 193. A. DE MATTEIs ET AL Zjmfiw TOASTER Filed Nov. 14, 1935 v4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ALFREDO 05% 7715/5. BY A1. 1///\/ C. GODDARD- ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 22, 1938 Q UNITED .sTArEs; OFFICE Alfredo De Matteis, Valley Stream, and Goddard, Forest Hills, Long Island,

0. assignors to York, N. Y.,

Alvin N. Y.,

Toastolator Company, Inc New a corporation of New York Application November 14,, 1935, Serial No. 49,680 15 Claims. 219-19) lines 2-4 and -4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical Our invention relates to a toaster of the household type. I

-In toasters of this type, as heretofore constructed, the slice of bread to be toasted has been held stationary between a pair of fixed heating elements. In some cases the bread is automatically ejected from the toaster alter a predetermined time, which may be adjusted to obtain varying degrees of toasting. Apparatus of this 10' type has the disadvantages that parts of the bread may be subjected to a more intense heating than others and also that parts shielded by holding members may not be toasted or browned at all. Moreover, in case the automatic ejecting de- II vice may fail to work properly, the bread will be toasted too much or not enough, as the case may be.

These various disadvantages are avoided in our present invention in which the bread to be at toasted is conveyed by a simple and compact mechanism through a. toasting zone in which each succeeding area of the bread is given a uniform heat treatment, and in which the degree of toasting may be easily controlled or regulated as required.

In our invention the bottom edge of a slice of bread to be toasted is placed on a pair of longitiidin'ally extending parallel rails and the toast is intermittently lifted and carried forwardly .between heating elements by a conveying mechanism which rises between the rails, moves forward a limited space, then drops below the rails and returns to its original position. In this way the toast is repeatedly lifted from one position on the 35' supporting rails, carried forwardly and again deposited on the rails until it has passed from be- Guides are provided to prevent the toast from falling sidewise againsttween the heating elements.

the heating elements but, in passing, the position of 'these guides changes continuously with respect to the exposed areas oi the bread so that no part of the bread is covered throughout by the guides but is exposed uniformly to the heating elements. Suitable supports are provided for the insertion of the bread and discharge of the toast. The time of toasting and thus the extent of browning may be controlled by moving the bread to d'ifierent positions on the conveyor device as it is-inserted in the toaster.

The various features of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:--- I Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a toaster embodying a preferred form of the inven- 56' tion; Figs. 2 and 4 are horizontal sections on the section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the conveyor mechanism and a'slice of bread being toasted, showing the position of the bread in different positions of the movement; Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a side elevation, Fig. 9 a plan and Fig. 10 a vertical section on the line l0--l 0 of Fig. 8 of a modified form of embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are, respectively, perspective, plan, side elevations and cross section on the line "-44 of Fig. 13. of a modified bread conveying or moving element of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a detail of a clip forming an element of the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive.

Figs. 16 and 17 are, respectively, side elevation and plan of another form of embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the toasterillustrated in the accompanying drawings,more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the bread to be toasted is carried between a pair of electric resistance heating ele ments Ill and II mountedwithin an enclosure l2 -on a base l8 on opposite sides of a bread conveying passageway i4. Bread to be toasted is inserted through an opening IS in the wall or casing ii at the right as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

.and rests, in whole or in part, on a supporting and conveying mechanism which comprises a pair of spaced rails l6 extending longitudinally at the bottom of the conveying space it.

The conveying mechanism also comprises a movable member I! having a series of spaced upstanding projections it between the rails l6 and projections l9 and 20 on opposite sides of the pair of rails. This conveyor member may be made in any suitable manner of any suitable material. For example, it may be made of a strip of metal having the edge portions 2i and 22 bent upwardly.

and serrated at their upper edges tov form the projections i9 and 201 The longitudinal central part is also pressed upwardly to form a pair of upwardly extending walls 23 joined at their upper edges by a flat horizontal area 24 from which the teeth l8 are formed by cutting and punching the metal upwardly at spaced intervals. This construction provides channels 25 in which the rails iii are received during the movements of the member l1.- openingsgls are iirovid'd at intervals in the bottom of the channels 25, from which crumbs or particles of bread or toast may fall and thus maintaining the toasting passage tree from. accumulation of crumbs.

The bread passing through the toasting passage is held upright by means of longitudinally extending bars 21 mounted at their opposite ends in uprights 28 which are mounted in the base l3 and joined at their upper ends by a longitudinally extending bar 29. The bars 21 may be of any suitable shape and form and are preferably straight and slightly inclined so that areas of the bread, which in one position are shielded from the heating elements by the bars, are exposed upon passing to a different position in the toasting passage.

At the entrance end a feeding platform 30 is provided on which -the bread to be toasted may rest in part as it is positioned in the entrance end of the toasting passage. The outer edge of the platform 39 is raised slightly in the transverse ridge 3| .so as to bring the weight of the slice of bread forwardly of its point of support on the platform and thus enable the moving elements I! to take the weight of the slice and advance it into the toasting passage. A platform 32 is also provided at the exit end'of the toasting passage.v

This platform 32 has raised edge portions 33 to provide a central channel 34 to guide the finished toast in a direct line as it leaves the toasting passage. The outer edge of the platform 32 is also curved downwardly at 35 to cause the toast to fall forwardly out of the toasting passage as its weight is received on the platform 32.

The period of time to which a slice of bread is subjected to the heating elements may be controlled by the extent to which it is pushed into the toasting passage. If it is found that the bread is toasted more *than is desired it is thereafter only necessary to push the slice further into the toasting passage. If, on the other hand, the toasting is not as great as desired, the bread will not be pushed into the toasting passage as far. The projections i9 and 20 are therefore made of a saw tooth shape to enable the bread to be movement by any suitable mechanism. embodiment shown by way of example, this move-- pushed in one direction and ride over the projecl tions, but to be engaged and pushed further in this direction by the movement of the elements II. This method of controlling the degree of toasting has the advantage that it is direct and easily understood and regulated.

The moving element I! may be given a required In the ment is one of combined translation and rotation, one point of the element II being given a rotating movement and other points being guided in the same rotational movement so that each element of the member I! in any one position is always parallel to its position in any other part of the movement. The element i1 is driven in its movement by means of an electric motor 36 mounted in the base l3 of the toaster and driving an eccentric 37 through a speed reducing gear frame 38. The eccentric 31 is journalled in a vertical plate 39 which extends upwardly between the walls 23 of the elements i1 andis secured thereto; -Therotation of the eccentric 31 thus lifts and lowers the plate 39 and with it the moving element II. The plate 39 is held in vertical position by means of pins 40 and 4| mounted on bracket arms 42 depending from the upper part of the base l3 and entering openings 43 and 44 respectively in the plate 39. The relation of the pins 40 and 4| to the openings 43 and 44 respectively is the same as that of the center of the eccentric 31 to the opening in which it is journalled, so that the plate 39 moves simultaneously in the same direction as the eccentric 31 and in the openings 43-44 and thus maintains a parallel relation to any other position in its movement. The motor 38 may be energized by current taken from the entrance cord or cable 45 through the switch 45 and wires 41 in parallel relation to wires 48 connecting the switch 46 to the heating elements.

The heating elements i I may be of any suitable construction and arrangement. Preferably they are formed of spirally wound wire and the elements on opposite sides of the toasting passage are arranged in series. The heating elements to and H are preferably identical or similar,the elements i0 being connected at one end to the binding terminal 49 and one end of the heating element 1 I being connected to a binding terminal 50. The binding terminals 49 and are connected to the wire 48 to the switch 46. The opposite ends of the heating elements pass downwardly through insulators 5| and join in the connecting length of wire 52.

The-length of spiral wire 53 extending upwardly' from the terminal 49 or 50 passes over an insulator 54, such as a porcelain spool, suspended by a hanger from the horizontal bar 29,

and thence downwardly in a length 55 to and under an insulating spool 51 mounted on a hanger 58 from the cross-bar 29. Thence it extends upwardly in a length 59 over the spool suspended on the hanger BI and downwardly in a length 52 to the connecting cross-wire 52. The spool 59 is arranged at a lower level than the spool 54 and the coils of the spirals 59 and 80 are more closely spaced so as to provide greater liberation of the heat in the lower part of the toasting passage. This results in a, more even distribution of heat for the heated air rises about the heating elements to the extreme upper part of the passage, and renders radiating heat elements unnecessary at this point. Moreover, the bread near the bottom of theslice is generally denser than near the upper crust, and requires greater application of heat. The result is that the heat is distributed in proportion to the absorbing capacity of the bread. As the slice passes past the hanger element 53 and 56 it has been partly dried and its surface is in position to take a uniform toasting and the heating effect is correspondingly reduced and distributed throughout the entire height of the slice.

The heating effect is, therefore, proportioned to give a, uniform toasting effect throughout the exposed surfaces of the slice. Inasmuch as the toasting effect will depend upon the length of time of heating the toast, this time may be shortened by pushing the bread further into the toasting channel, or lengthened by placing it at the extreme outer part. The repeated movements of the bread being toasted also tends to maintain a uniform toasting effect.

The toasting elements may be enclosed in an enclosure which comprises a pair of side walls 63 having end walls 54 and 55 that are inturned toward the toasting passage and terminate in ap proximate alignment with the guides 21, so as to define the entrance and outlet to and from the toasting passage. The top part of the enclosure is formed by a top or cover plate 56 which is secured to the side plate 63 by screws, or other suitable means, and which are also secured to the uprights 29 and the cross-bar 29 by suitable securing means. The lower edges of the side walls 63 are held in position by down-turned strips 61 that fit over the up-turned edges of the plate 68 mounted on the base I5. Insulating plates 69 and 19 are mounted on the under surface of the platforms 39 and 32 to enable these platforms to act as handles, without danger of being burnt should a the platforms be heated.

side of a depending plate II, which corresponds in position to the elements 42 of Fig. 1, by means of a pair of studs I2 which project from the plate II through openings 1.3 in the plate 39 and pairs of washers I4. The openings 13 are of a diameter greater than the diameter of the studs 12 to permit an oscillating motion about the studs. This oscillating motion is imparted to the plate 39 by means of-a pair of cams I5 mounted on a rotating-shaft I6 and acting against horizontal flanges I1 projecting sidewise from the lower edge of the plate 39 to alternately lift and lower the plate 39 in recurrent cycles. A cam I3 is also mountedon the shaft 19 and projects into a slot I9 on a plate or bracket 39 on the plate 39, and is so inclined as to shift the plate 39 forwardly in its uppermost position, and backwardly or in a return movement in its lowermost position.

As a result, the plate 39 is lifted so as to lift the toast above the supporting rail or rails, move it forwardly, then drop to permit the toast. or bread to rest on the supporting rail, and then return to its original position. The toast supporting member I9 may be mounted on upward 1 projections 9| of the plate 39 by means of clips jections BI and then 32 which pass through openings 33 in the proare bent tightly-against the sides of the element I9 or a part thereof. The

shaft 19 may be driven by any suitable driving motor through any suitable transmission mechanism.- I

By way of example, such mechanism. is illustrated as comprising a motor 33 mounted on 4 the .plate II by means of a pair of shafts sideof the plate II opposite the plate 39 and having an arbor or shaft extending therethrough, and provided with a worm 33 which meshes :with a gear 89 keyed to the shaft I9. The shaft 13 may be mounted in suitable bearfings 31 in brackets 33 at opposite ends of the plate II.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the oscillating or carrying plate 39 is slidably mounted on-the supporting 99 and eccentrics 99 keyed on the shafts and fitting the openings in the plate 39. The plate 39 is held in suitably spaced relation to the plate II by means of pairs of washers 9|, one pair for each of the shafts 99. The eccentrics 99 are mounted in the same angular relation to their respective 75 manner similar'to the mounting of shafts 89 and consequently rotate their respective ends of the plate 39 in the same phase so that'the plate 39 is lifted, carried forwardly, dropped and returned to its original position with each complete rotation of the shafts 39. The shafts 39 are driven insynchronism bymeans of a motor 9| mounted on the plate 'II and having a shaft 92 that extends from each end of the motor 9|, and .carries on the projecting ends worms 93 which mesh with gears 94 keyedon their respective shafts 39 so that the gears 93 and shafts 89 andv earns 99 rotate at the same speed and in the same phase or cycle.

l p The toast or bread conveying mechanism shown in Figs; 11 to 15 inclusive, and which is an improved form of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, comprises a single flat bar 94 mounted at its opposite ends in the platforms 99 and I9 in a the rods I6 The openings 93 are formed in the bottom plate 95.. The bottom plate 95 is secured on upwardlyprojecting ends of the actuating mechanism, such as-the upward projections of the plate 33 in any of the modifications, by means of a clip having a downwardly depending shank bent to form a pair of slightly spaced leaves 93 which grip the opposite sides of the upward projections ill of the plate 39, and having a pair of horizontal leaves 99 projecting on opposite sides of the leaves 93. The hook elements I99 extend upwardly from the horizontal leaves 99 through openings I9I in the bottom plate 95 and are then pressed downwardly to engage and grip the bottom plate 95.

Inasmuch as the temperature maintained in fer of heat to the motor 39 with consequent injury to it if these two elements were separated only by a single sheet of metal, a heat insulating or dissipating means is inserted between the two. Inthe embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and the toasting channel would cause a rapid trans- 3, for example, the toasting channel and the heating elements areseparated from the chamber enclosing the motor 36 by a pair of spaced walls I99 and I9I-which form between them an."

air space I92 which acts as a heat insulating medium, and by providing the openings I93 permits a circulation of air that intercepts any heat thrust downwardly from the toasting channel.

The above arrangement provides a somewhat simpler mechanism for supporting and conveying the bread to be toasted.

Various modifications may be made by those.

skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

and lower said conveyor element and a cam to reciprocate said conveyor element lengthwise, and a common driving means for said cams.

2. A'toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, sup porting means comprising a rail extending lengthwise at the bottom of said passage, a conveyor element having engaging surfaces alongside mid rail to lift and carry a slice of bread in said pas sage, a pair of "eccentrics spaced lengthwise of said conveyor element and engaging said element, and a common driving motor for said eccentrics.

3; A toaster comprising a pair of electricheating elements spaced to define a toasting passage..-

conveyor means in the lower part of said passage comprising a stationary supporting surface ex-- tending lengthwise 01-59111 Pass ge and a movable conveyor element, a pair of spaced eccentrics engaging said movable element at longitudinally spaced positions, a motor between said eccentrics, and a worm and gear driven by said motor to drive said eccentrics.

4. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage supporting means in the lower part of said passage for supporting a slice of bread in vertical position, a conveyor element having carrying surfaces extending alongside said supporting means, a par of actuating means spaced longitudinally of said conveyor element to lift said conveyor element above the level of said supporting means, move it forwardly, drop it below the level of said supporting means and return it to its original position and a common driving shaft engaging said spaced actuating means.

5. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, a supporting means in the lower part of said passage and extending lengthwise thereof, a conveyor element having surfaces extending alongside said supporting means, means engaging said conveyor element at longitudinally spaced intervals thereof to lift said conveyor element to pro- ,iect above said supporting element, move forwardly thereof, lower it to its original level and return it to its original position and a drive shaft engaging and driving said means.

6. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced'to provide a toasting passage, toast supporting means in the lower part of saidepassage comprising a rail extending lengthwise thereof, a conveyor element having carrying surfaces extending alongside said rail, a motor mounted beneath said toasting passage and heating elements, means driven by said motor to reciprocate said conveyor element in recurrent cycles upwardly, forwardly, downwardly and return to lift toast from its support and advance it periodically, and spaced plates forming an air space between said motor and said heating elements and toasting passage.

7. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, toast supporting means in the lower part of said pas- Msage comprising a rail extending lengthwise thereof, a conveyor element having carrying surfaces extending alongside said rail, a motor mounted beneath said toasting passage and heating elements, means driven by said motor to reciprocate said conveyor element in recurrent cycles upwardly, forwardly, downwardly and return to lift toast from its support and advance it periodically, and heat dissipating and insulating means between said motor and said heating and toasting elements.

8. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage and supporting means in the lower part of said passage comprising a rail extending lengthwise thereof, a conveyor element comprising a channel element having its parallel flanges extending upwardly on opposite sides of said rail, a vertical support for said channel having clip means extending upwardly and engaging the bottom of said channel, and driving means comprising eccentrics engaging said vertical support at intervals spaced longitudinally of the direction of movement.

9. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a. toasting passage, a pair of spaced supporting rails extending longitudinally in the base of said passage, a conveyor mechanism comprising a strip of metal folded longitudinally to provide a central upstanding portion and upturned side edges and with projections extending upwardly from said side edges "and from said central portion and to provide receiving channels between said central portion and said side edges for said supporting rails, the bottoms of said channels being open for the discharge of particles, and means to. lift;said con veyor mechanism until the projections project above the upper surfaces of said rails, move said conveyor forwardly a limited distance, lower it to its original level and return it to its original position.

10. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, 9. pair of spaced supporting rails extending longitudinally in the base of said passage, a conveyor mechanism comprising a strip of metal folded longitudinally to provide a central upstanding portion and upturned side edges and with projections extending upwardly from said side edges and from said central portion and to provide receiving channels between said central portion and said side edges for said supporting rails, the bottoms of said channels being open for the discharge of particles, and means to lift said conveyor mechanism until the projections project above the upper surfaces of said rails, move said conveyor forwardly a limited distance, lower it to its original level and return it to its original position, said means comprising an eccentric, a plate having an opening journalled in said eccentric and secured to said conveyor and having openings spaced from said eccentric, and stationary guide pins in said openings to hold said plate in the same relative position in each position of movement.

11. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, a supporting means in the lower part of said passage comprising a rail extending lengthwise, a conveyor element having carrying surfaces extending alongside said rail, a pair of cams to lift and lower said conveyor element and a cam to reciprocate said conveyor element lengthwise, and a common driving means for said cams.

12. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, supporting means comprising a rail extending lengthwise at the bottom of said passage, 9. conveyor element having engaging surfaces alongside said rail to lift and carry a slice of bread in said passage, 9. pair of eccentrics spaced lengthwise of said conveyor element and engaging said element, and a common driving motor for said eccentrics.

' 13. A toaster comprising a pair of electric heating elements spaced to define a toasting passage, conveyor means in the lower part of said passage comprising a'stationary supporting surface extending lengthwise of said passage and a movable conveyor element, a pair of spaced eccentrics engaging said movable element at longitudinally spaced positions, a motor between said eccentricaand a worm and gear driven by said motor to drive said eccentrics.

14. Atoaster comprising a pair of spaced heating elements to define a toasting passage, 8. stationary rail extending lengthwise in the lower part of said passage, a conveyor element comprising a trough-shaped member having flanges project- 'ing upwardly on opposite sides of said stationary rail and serrated at their upper edges, a supporting element for said trough-shaped element, a clip for securing said trough-shaped element to said supporting element, and means for raising and lowering said conveyor element and moving it forwardly and reversely in its upper and lower positions respectively.

15. A toaster comprising a pair of heating elements spaced to provide a toasting passage, 9. pair of spaced supporting rails extending ionje'ct above'the upper surfaces of said rails to move said conveyor forwardly a limited distance to lower it to its original level and to return it I gitudlnally in the base of said passage, 2. con veyor mechanism comprising a. strip of metal having a. central upstanding portion between said rails and upstanding side edge portions outto its original position.

5 side of said rails to provicletwo receiving chan- 5 nels below said rails, means to lift said conveyor ALFREDO DE MATTEIS. mechanism until the upstanding portions pro- ALVIN C. GODDARD. 

